Officer Rebecca Kuzdek is also believed to be the first female officer in Livingston County to become a drug-recognition expert and the third officer in the county to do so.

“Officer Kudzek has not only committed herself to the village of Fowlerville residents, but also to all residents residing in Livingston County as being a DRE she is utilized by all Livingston County police agencies to help stop impaired driving,” Fowlerville Police Chief John Tyler said.

Kuzdek, who has been with the department since 2011, made 25 arrests for operating while under the influence of drugs and/or operating while intoxicated from Jan. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2015.

During that same period, Kuzdek completed the DRE schooling, which is an intense three-week course that ends with a week spent at the Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix, Arizona. A DRE is an officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers. The program originated in Los Angeles in the early 1970s.

The Maricopa County Jail is arguably best known for its Tent City Jail where inmates are housed in military-style tents.

Kuzdek also is a standardized field sobriety training instructor.

MADD recognized six officers across the state with its MADD Outstanding Officer Award at a ceremony Thursday in Mount Pleasant. The village board honored Kuzdek at its Monday meeting.

The jurisdiction of the Fowlerville Police Department is 3.3 square miles with a population of about 3,000 residents.

“Officer Kuzdek is a very hard worker and (it’s) a very great asset to have her at the Fowlerville Police Department and also for the Fowlerville community,” Tyler said.